Finding time to write a book is crucial in order to make progress on finishing that book. Each of us is given 24 hours in a day. No more and no less. How we budget and allocate that time is going to vary from person to person.
If you’ve ever wondered how to find time to write, this post is for you. We want to help you fulfill your God-given call to write, publish and market your book and make the most of your precious time. As Stephen R. Covey said, “The key is in not spending time, but in investing it.”
Finding Time to Write a Book
Strategies for Consistent Writing
Finding time to write a book will require specific and intentional strategies in order to make progress on your writing goals. Books simply don’t write themselves. Here are a few strategies that have helped us stay consistent with our writing…
- Time Blocking – When you are looking at the week or month ahead, one strategy is to block off chunks of time that are dedicated to writing only. For example, CJ likes to schedule several 2-3 hour blocks of time in his phone calendar. These blocks are in the afternoon which is when he prefers writing. Short of an emergency, these scheduled blocks of time are set in stone and considered serious commitments.
Each writer has to determine which blocks of time work best for them but just adding these commitments into your calendar goes a long way in achieving your writing goals. - Prioritization – It’s been said that we always find time for the things we want to do. Many of those who say, “I just can’t find the time to sit down and write,” will somehow have time to watch hours of TV or scroll through social media. Finding time to write a book has to become a priority if you and I are going to hit the publish button.
A good question to ask ourselves is, “How desperate am I to complete the book God has called me to write?” Is it worth getting out of bed a couple hours early once or twice a week? Is it more important than being mindlessly entertained by my smartphone? Nothing worth having in life comes without effort. Make your writing a priority before too much more time slips away. - Setting Clear Goals – There’s a difference between saying, “I want to do more writing this week” and “I will write for 30 minutes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday this week.” The first phrase is vague and could easily get swallowed up by other things. The second phrase is a specific and realistic goal most people can easily achieve.
This same concept applies to New Year’s resolutions. “I plan on doing more writing in 2024.” “I hope to lose more weight this year.” There’s nothing wrong with these desires except that they will most likely fizzle by late January. In fact, only about 12% of New Year’s resolutions are actually achieved. There has to be a clear and achievable goal and then a daily commitment to see that goal through.
Here’s an example of a clear and specific goal and then a clear plan of attack…
Specific Goal: Let’s say you’re at the beginning of a new year. My goal is to finish writing my first draft by the end of June.
Specific Plan: I will block off 2 hours every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for the purpose of writing. I will not break my writing appointment unless there’s an emergency, even if that means saying no to several good things.
Finding time to write a book will require setting clear goals and having a specific plan to get there.
Cultivating the Writing Habit
When thinking of the word “cultivate,” farming comes to mind. In fact, Webster’s defines this word in the following ways: “to prepare or prepare and use for the raising of crops; to foster the growth of; to improve by labor, care, or study.”
By cultivating a writing habit, we could look at it similar to a farmer cultivating his/her crops. We are preparing, fostering the growth of our writing, laboring, caring, and studying our craft. There is a careful process a farmer has to take in order to see a fruitful harvest. In the same way, there is a careful process a writer has to take in order to see their writing flourish into all that God intends.
Here are a few ways we could look at the process of making writing a habit…
- Daily or Weekly Commitment – As we look at how to find time to write, having a commitment is key. When it comes to a doctor’s appointment, we are usually pretty good at keeping that appointment, knowing that if we cancel, it could be months before they can get us back in for another one. I’m not saying we should look at our writing appointments like doctor’s appointments, but we should take them seriously.
The reality is that if we choose to miss a writing appointment, we won’t get that specific block of time back. Thankfully, God’s grace allows us to schedule more appointments with the hope of making the most of each one.
We encourage you to sit down with your calendar and begin setting aside blocks of time for writing commitments. Some of those blocks might be 30 minutes, some might be 2 hours, and others could be 4 hours. It’s going to vary from person to person but the important thing is making the commitment and sticking to it as much as you’re able with God’s help. - Accountability – This is a crucial piece for so many in finding time to write a book. In our Christian Book Academy, we have implemented a resource called “Progress Pods” that so many of our members have found to be so helpful. These are accountability groups of 6-10 members that meet via Zoom a couple of times each month.
Each group has a trained leader that helps facilitate each session. Members come away from each session encouraged, edified, and excited after sharing their ups and downs with fellow like-minded Kingdom writers. We have heard several writers say that these Progress Pods have been worth the price of their membership with all the ways they have benefitted. The key to these groups is simply focusing on the next small step that will help facilitate progress and then being accountable to that one small step. - Mindset Shift – Our mindset is also a key ingredient in finding time to write a book. If you and I have been called to write books, it is an absolute privilege we have been given. We like to say, “It’s a privilege, not a pressure.” There’s a difference between saying, “I have to do some writing today” and “I get to do some writing today.”
If writing feels burdensome, we need to sit down with the Lord and ask Him what the root of this is. There’s no doubt that finishing a book will require some sweat equity, but our mindset should be that of gratitude and privilege for this opportunity to write words that impact others on a deep level.
Discovering Writing Opportunities Everywhere
As we think about how to find time to write, we can look at several creative ways to help us move forward. Here are a few unlikely places that could help us think outside the box…
- Micro-Writing Moments – Utilizing short breaks or idle moments for quick writing sessions could add up over the long term. Anthony Trollope was one of the most successful novelists of the Victorian era. Over the course of 35 years, he wrote 47 novels. He did all of this while working a demanding job as a post office inspector.
He committed 15 minutes of every workday hour to writing 250 words. This commitment could produce up to 10 pages of a novel each day. Trollope made the decision to turn off all distractions during those 15-minute segments, only hearing the ticking of his watch.Although this may not be realistic for all of us, this practice shows what can happen during uninterrupted 15-minute intervals. When we become intentional about scheduling these 15-minute writing sessions, it can add up over the course of weeks, months and years. Even if we haven’t written 250 words, these segments could allow us to organize our thoughts or ideas. Productivity can be defined in numerous ways.
- Repurposing Time – Many of us could utilize seemingly unproductive moments when thinking of how to find time to write. For those who have a daily commute, how about dictating words or ideas into your phone or other recording device? When you add up the days you commute to and from work, you could turn your vehicle into a productive audio writing studio!
Are you looking at a long line at the post office or Walmart? Open up the notes app on your phone or take out a small notepad where you can jot down some ideas you might explore later that day or in the days ahead. What are some ways you could make those unproductive moments in your life a little more productive? - Inspiration from Everyday Life – Finding time to write a book also requires that we live attentively and present to all that’s around us and the things we encounter daily. Here are a few ways we can be more present and attentive to things that might inspire writing ideas…
– Paying attention to the billboards we drive by everyday just might give us a creative idea
– Paying attention to the stories of those we encounter each day, whether friends, family, or strangers can inspire writing material that encourages others
– Getting to know and pay attention to our neighbors can influence our writing
– Being aware of world events can help our writing stay relevant to our readers
– Keeping our noses in God’s Word on a daily basis always inspires our writing and is always relevant in the world we live in
– Being present with and paying attention to our kids can inspire our writing with humor, gratitude, and joy among other things
– Specifically praying for God to help us see illustrations from daily life that can be incorporated into our writing
In Conclusion
Finding time to write a book will require an intentional effort on our part to set aside the time to write. Our books will be written one word at a time which will then turn into sentences, paragraphs, chapters, and finally, completed books.
If God is calling you to write a book, He’s going to open up the time needed to finish that book. Our advice is to make your writing a priority just like you would any other commitment you regularly keep. You are being invited by the God of the universe to write for His glory!
As Benjamin Franklin said, “Never leave till tomorrow that which you can do today.”
And one last challenge from the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesians,
“Look carefully then, how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16 ESV)
Let the consistent writing begin!
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